Tag Archive: Luzon

Five suspected communist rebels were killed while another was captured in a clash with policemen in Mexico, Pampanga, early Tuesday, police said.

Killed were four men and a woman who are all believed to be members of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines-Rebolusyunaryong Hukbong Bayan (MLPP-RHB), Pampanga provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Recomono said.

They were brought to the Mexico Community Hospital for treatment after the clash, but all were pronounced dead by doctors, provincial police spokesperson Superintendent Anna Liza Guzman said.

One Ryan Lising, 28, was arrested after authorities found him carrying a loaded caliber-.45 pistol, she said.

The clash occurred around 1:20 a.m. in Brgy. San Jose Matulid.

Elements of the provincial police’s intelligence branch, Special Weapons and Tactics unit, and Mexico Police carried out an operation after learning of the presence of MLPP-RHB members in the area, Recomono said in a text message.

The suspects were allegedly involved in incidents of robbery/hold-up, car thefts, as well as gun-for-hire and extortion activities, in Pampanga and nearby provinces, he said.

Operatives seized four short firearms, two Carbine rifles, an M16 rifle, a hand grenade, a bow and three arrows, a crossbow, subversive documents, electronic gadgets, and a pair of binoculars from the suspects, Guzman said.

Four unregistered motorcycles were also found at the scene, Recomono said.

The MLPP-RHB, whose members are mostly based in Central Luzon, is a group that broke away from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in the 90s. (John Roson)

The Office of Civil Defense in Calabarzon (OCD 4A) has recommended that people living near trees and big structures be evacuated during storms, after typhoon “Glenda” caused many casualties in the region.

“Those living near large structures like billboards, walls, electric and communication posts, as well as trees, should also be warned and encouraged to evacuate,” OCD 4A director Vicente Tomazar said in a report to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Currently, only people living in areas prone to floods, landslides, and storm surges are covered by plans of pre-emptive evacuation.

But it was observed that most of the 66 people killed and 96 injured as of Sunday in Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, and Quezon were hit by uprooted trees, collapsing walls, and other falling debris, said Tomazar, who also chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

In a full council meeting of the RDRRMC 4A on Friday, it was also recommended that trees along highways and major roads be trimmed, or the planting of trees in such areas be discouraged altogether.

Meanwhile, Tomazar recommended that the government also come up with an “emergency communications strategy” that could be used during disasters, as regional authorities were practically cut off from national and local agencies for hours, after Glenda struck.

“The storm crippled telecommunication facilities, disrupting emergency services. Due to this, information at the higher DRRMC was limited,” he said.

As of Sunday morning, the RDRRMC 4A recorded 667,497 affected persons, 106,539 destroyed houses, and P661.37 million worth of damage, but has yet to receive information from some areas in Quezon, Laguna, and Batangas because of communication problems.

Glenda’s effects on the region’s economy “have yet to be fully reckoned,” the council said.

Tomazar cited the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as one of the national agencies inaccessible during Glenda’s onsluaught.

“The forecasting capability of DOST-PAGASA was very much appreciated, it was very accurate. But its accessibility on the website was a major issue during the passage of the typhoon” he said.

Tomazar admitted that current incident management plans and procedures “fell short” and that the local DRRMC system, though well coordinated, was “overwhelmed” by Glenda, which is now considered as one of the most destructive storms that hit Calabarzon.

Three people were confirmed killed while three others remain missing due to incidents caused by tropical storm “Maring” and the southwest monsoon in different parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, authorities said Monday.

Two persons were killed when a dike in Tanza, Cavite, collapsed amid heavy rains around 8 a.m Monday, Vicente Tomazar, director of the Office of Civil Defense-Calabarzon, said in a phone interview.

On Sunday afternoon, a passenger jeepney figured in an accident in Sitio Lenneng, Cabugao, Apayao, leaving Franco Pedrito Cawayan dead and nine other persons seriously injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a report.

Ten people were killed while at least 10 others were injured when the utility vehicle they were riding fell into a ravine in Buguias, Benguet, on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Twenty passengers were pulled out of the crash site, but 10 died while being brought to the hospital, Supt. Davy Vicente Lim-mong, Cordillera regional police spokesman, said in a text message, citing initial field reports.

The injured are still undergoing treatment at the Abatan and Lutheran hospitals, with some being recommended for transfer to medical facilities in Baguio City, he said.

The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in Brgy. Bayoyo.

The Ford Fiera utility vehicle (AAD-874) was heading towards Brgy. Abatan when it fell into a ravine more or less 80 meters deep, Lim-mong said. (John Roson) post updated. see update here

The five, all natives of Sual, were eating around 12:30 a.m. when they were killed by about 10 armed and bonnet-wearing men, Manongdo said.

Investigation indicated that the armed men first held the five at gunpoint, tied up the hands and feet of Jomer and Albert with plastic straps, then hacked the duo’s heads with a bladed instrument, he said.

“When Rommel, Ernesto, and Ronald attempted to fight back, they were shot on the different parts of the body. As a consequence, all victims died on the spot,” Manongdo said in a text message.

Responding policemen found 16 empty shells and five slugs of caliber-.45 pistols and 14 plastic straps at the scene. A fan knife and a cellphone were recovered from Rommel and Albert’s bodies, respectively.

Investigators are looking at a possibility that the killings are related to the victims’ alleged involvement in criminal activities.

Information gathered from the area indicated that the five were engaged in robbery (akyat-bahay), cattle rustling, and theft, Manongdo said.

It was also learned that Rommel had been convicted for a case of robbery with acts of lasciviousness but was granted parole last April, the provincial police spokesman added.

Members of the Bugallon Police are still conducting an “in-depth investigation” to determine the assailants’ identities, he said. (John Roson)

PO2 Ronald Gomez, PO2 Jeopano Adang, PO2 Ricky Monay, PO2 Jeofrey Amilagan, PO2 Jeofrey Elasco, and PO1 Ephraim Dolete, also members of the SAF’s 24th Company, were still being treated at the hospital as of this writing.

The policemen were passing through the boundary of Brgys. Cataratan and Centro West around 8:30 a.m., when a landmine explosion hit their troop carrier, Orlanes said.

After the blast, about 30 fully-armed rebels fired upon the police team, which was heading towards the town proper to undergo electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, a requirement for an upcoming physical fitness test, he said.

“Some of them (policemen) were even in their athletic uniforms because they were supposed to undergo ECG,” he said.

Despite being injured, some of the policemen engaged the rebels in a firefight, but it was still unknown if the rebels also suffered casualties, Orlanes said.

“Firearms were also reportedly taken from them (policemen), but we have yet to receive information what types these are,” he said.

After the incident, additional policemen arrived at the area to reinforce the ambushed troops and brought the wounded to the Ballesteros District Hospital.

Castulo was among those who were brought to the hospital, but he expired while undergoing treatment, Orlanes said.

Other policemen were still pursuing the rebels as of this writing. (John Roson)